[either from ACKNOWLEDGE sb., like the earlier KNOWLEDGE v. f. KNOWLEDGE sb.; or formed on KNOWLEDGE v., like AKNOW on KNOW. There was also an earlier i-knowledge. By 16th c. the earlier vbs. knowledge and a(c)know (exc. in pa. pple.) were obs., and acknowledge took their place.]
1. To own the knowledge of; to confess; to recognize or admit as true.
1553. Latimer, in Southey’s C. P. Bk., Ser. II. 55. One man took remorse of conscience, and acknowledged himself to me that he had deceived the king.
1599. Shaks., Much Ado, I. ii. 13. He loued my niece your daughter, and meant to acknowledge it this night in a dance. Ibid. (1611), Wint. T., III. ii. 62. In name of Fault, I must not At all acknowledge.
1611. Bible, Jer. iii. 13. Acknowledge thine iniquity that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God.
1756. Burke, Vind. Nat. Soc., Wks. I. 35. I acknowledge indeed, the necessity of such a proceeding.
1794. Sullivan, View of Nat., I. 71. The sea, he must acknowledge, is always at the same level.
1850. McCosh, Div. Govt., IV. i. (1874), 464. Their views of God are acknowledged to be miserably meagre.
2. To recognize or confess (a person or thing to be something); a. with complement. b. simply: To recognize (one) to be what he claims; to own the claims or authority of.
1481. Caxton, Myrrour, II. xxiv. 193. In whiche translacion I acknowleche myself symple, rude and ygnoraunt.
1590. Shaks., Com. Err., V. i. 322. Thou sham’st to acknowledge me in miserie. Ibid. (1597), 1 Hen. IV., III. ii. 111. Through all the Kingdomes that acknowledge Christ.
1611. Bible, Wisd., xii. 27. They acknowledged him to be the true God, whome before they denyed to know. Ibid., Prov. iii. 6. In all thy wayes acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy pathes.
1651. Hobbes, Leviathan, I. x. 43. He acknowledgeth the power which others acknowledge.
1762. Goldsm., Cit. World (1837), iv. 16. An Englishman is taught to acknowledge no other master than the laws which himself has contributed to enact.
1781. Gibbon, Decl. ∓ F., III. 65. The authority of Theodosius was cheerfully acknowledged by all the inhabitants of the Roman world.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 532. A secret purse from which agents too vile to be acknowledged received hire.
1876. Freeman, Norm. Conq., II. ix. 433. Harold was publicly acknowledged as … the designated successor to the crown.
3. To own as genuine, or of legal force or validity; to own, avow, or assent, in legal form, to (an act, document, etc.) so as to give it validity.
1870. Pinkerton, Guide to Administr., 48. A release should be acknowledged before proper authority and recorded in the office for recording deeds, etc.
4. To own with gratitude, or as an obligation (a gift, or service rendered). Hence, To acknowledge (the receipt of) a letter.
1667. Milton, P. L., XI. 612. But they his gifts acknowledg’d none.
Mod. To acknowledge the divine goodness in our deliverance. I hope you have properly acknowledged their kindness. These letters have not been acknowledged.
